Dying to oneself
“AMEN, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich...
Category Archives: Opinion
The dignity of our human body
ONCE again, we celebrate this very wonderful Solemnity of the Assumption of our Lady to heaven (August 15), reminding us that like her, we too are meant to be both body and soul in our definitive state of life, hopefully in heaven, at the end...
Reading the Bible (C 129-41)
Another important thing to remember in reading the Bible is that its various books are not organized according to subject matter or chronology. Therefore, it’s not best to start on page one and try to read straight through. Many people who do this find themselves...
Listen to His call
(Excerpt from the homily of Most Reverend Romulo G. Valles, D.D., Archbishop of Davao during the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord and his 25th Episcopal Anniversary on August 6, 2022, San Pedro Cathedral Parish, San Pedro Street, Davao City) Brothers and sisters in the...
Mary, Our Lady of the Assumption: Our Great Hope in this World
Every 15th of August commemorates the belief that when Mary died, her body was “assumed” into heaven to be reunited with her soul, instead of going through the natural process of physical decay upon death. In 1950, Pope Pius XII declared the Assumption of Mary official...
The love-generated zeal and focus
WHERE there is love, there is always zeal, the state of always being driven and bent on pursuing a clear goal. And this was shown by Christ himself, the pattern of our humanity and the savior of our damaged humanity. At one point, he clearly...
On human sexuality
IN the gospel, Christ was once asked about marriage and divorce. And it was there that he had to clarify certain misunderstandings the people of that time had about these matters. And he also brought in the issue about celibacy. (cfr. Mt 19,3-12) Human sexuality is...
We have to be merciful
TO be merciful is a necessity for us. That’s because to be merciful likens us to God himself who created us in his image and likeness. Mercy is the ultimate expression of charity which is the very essence of God himself and is meant also...
The need for self-denial
CHRIST said it very clearly. If we want to follow him, we should deny ourselves, carry the cross and follow him. (cfr. Mt 16,24) And only then can we be fruitful, both in our spiritual life and our apostolate. This truth of our faith was somehow...
Concern for those who have less in life
LET’S remember always that God has a special concern for those who have less in life, like the simple and the weak, the sick and disabled, the children and the poor. And it gives him much pain if we would scandalize them, either through our...